[center][img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/3436a6f8-5a66-409e-af35-d4db22a5aaa7/dbqzlky-83710ab9-a413-4f12-b65b-f1982502b91c.jpg/v1/fill/w_1280,h_604,q_75,strp/fantasy_city_by_claudiopilia_dbqzlky-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3siaGVpZ2h0IjoiPD02MDQiLCJwYXRoIjoiXC9mXC8zNDM2YTZmOC01YTY2LTQwOWUtYWYzNS1kNGRiMjJhNWFhYTdcL2RicXpsa3ktODM3MTBhYjktYTQxMy00ZjEyLWI2NWItZjE5ODI1MDJiOTFjLmpwZyIsIndpZHRoIjoiPD0xMjgwIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmltYWdlLm9wZXJhdGlvbnMiXX0.4W4hDqv5Ed_dseNQtoyuxGgf4VdkSkheKuREyczU4cY[/img] [b][h3][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05swgRbTOpg]A V A T A R:[/url][/h3] [h1]T H E F A L L O F S I W O N G C I T Y[/h1] [/b][/center] [hr] [right][color=slategray]Story Prelude[/color][/right] [i]In the generations after Avatar Wan closed the spirit portals humanity has flourished and prospered as they spread throughout the world. Nations have come and gone as humanity has warred between themselves, the Avatar always resurfacing to bring about peace, balance, and harmony. The last great Avatar was the mighty Si Wong, who brought an end to the warring Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation forming a great city in the desert of her namesake, which has since been named for her, a place where peoples from all walks of life, and all cultures can come together in peace and prosperity. Since then it has grown into a mighty city, capable of rivaling the great Ba Sing Se. As Si Wong died while stopping the Dark Spirit Hēi'àn her death was mourned, as agents from the city began scouring for the next Avatar. They were never found. Nearly seventy years later some believe that the Avatar cycle was broken and that the Avatar will never return to the physical world. The world continues, as nations scheme and plot. The Earth Kings eyes upon the great city of Si Wong, while spirits have been seen returning to the physical world in places where humanity has tainted the surface of the planet. Many fear what is coming to pass, and yet there is a glimmer of hope. [center][b]The Avatar has returned.[/b][/center][/i] [hr] [right][color=slategray]Out of Character Information[/color][/right] This Roleplay is set centuries before the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Based around the city of Si Wong within the Si Wong Desert it deals with the return of the Avatar after the last one died, and the next one in the cycle was never seen or heard from. This is the story of the return and their battle with dark spirits and movements from the other Nations as individuals all over the world aim to expand their power and territory. A player will be chosen from those willing to become the Avatar, and this player will be at the very center of the major plotlines that I put forward for the players however everyone is an important member of the cast. I will stress however that this is [b]Open-World[/b]. You can go wherever you wish, and interact with whatever you want and even enjoy your own storylines however I'll be watching, [i]always[/i] watching and you never know what will happen next. [hr] [right][color=slategray]Nations/Peoples[/color][/right] [hider=Fire Nation] [center][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/4/47/Fire_Nation_emblem.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20090125144137[/img][/center] The Fire Nation does not exist in any way shape or form that we know it. A bunch of warring states spread throughout the Fire Islands, their differing philosophies to the Sun Warriors are the very reason the ancient civilization is slowly cutting itself off from the world. Despite this, the Fire Sages have come forth and joined the Fire Nation in Caldera City, with grand plans to try and unite all of the Fire Isles into one nation. Meanwhile, the warlords Toz and Diyu control large swathes of land. Toz in the south islands while Diyu controls many of the smaller eastern isles. [/hider] [hider=Earth Kingdom][center][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/a/a4/Earth_Kingdom_emblem.png/revision/latest?cb=20090125144136[/img][/center] Ba Sing Se stands as the pride of the Earth Kingdom, as the largest city on the face of the planet it is also one of the wealthiest. Protected by its great walls from any outside threats. The rise of King Hadai also saw the rise of the expansionist era. While the Fire Islands rely on armed conflict to conquer, the Earth Kingdom has largely been formed due to political machinations and the exchange of resources however there have been some suggestions and troop movements to ensure that some people comply with the unification of the Earth Kingdom. As it stands the Earth Kingdom is unified along the North of the Continent, with its influence starting to spread south towards the Si Wong Desert. [/hider] [hider=Air Nomads] [center][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/f/f5/Air_Nomads_emblem.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20090125144136[/img][/center] The Air Nomads are a race of spiritually enlightened people, with four temples spread evenly around the world. While other nations concern themselves with economic or political power the Air Nomads for the largest part are not. They concern themselves with spiritual matters, spread throughout the world offering aide where they can, and spiritual guidance to people from the other three nations. Almost every Air Nomad is an Air Bender, do to the level of spiritual enlightenment they have and while it is rare for an Air Bender to not be an Air Nomad, it has been known to happen. [/hider] [hider=Water Tribes] [center][img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/avatar/images/8/85/Water_Tribe_emblem.png/revision/latest?cb=20090125144137[/img][/center] [right][b]Northern Water Tribe[/b][/right] The Nothern Water Tribe is a male-dominated society. While there are many male and female benders, women are not allowed to learn any form of bending other than how to heal. It is a rich society, its society is based around fishing and then trading through their great merchant ships. Northern Water Tribe ships are the most sought after vessels for trade and commerce throughout the world, their water benders the best at navigating the oceans and ensuring ships make it to their destinations safely and as quickly as possible. [right][b]Southern Water Tribe[/b][/right] The Southern Water Tribe is similar in size to their sister tribe in the North. The tribe in the South, however, is much more nomadic, while the North maintains a central location and city as its cultural hub. The South maintains several small towns spread along the coast, with parties roaming the wastes and the oceans surrounding making their livelihoods. Their Benders are fewer and farther between, and they do not follow the strict guidelines and rules that those in the North do. [right][b]Foggy Swamp Tribe[/b][/right] The Foggy Swamp Tribe consists of a group of Water Benders who journeyed across the land from the South to the North, however, once they found the Foggy swamp they decided they had found their true home. Maintaining their nomadic nature from the South, they journey around the swamps maintaining its ecosystems and living their lives in seclusion. [/hider] [hider=Si Wong City] Si Wong City was formed in the desert by the Avatar of the same name. Founded as a metropolis for members of all four nations to come and work together. Using her immense power Avatar Si Wong cleared the sands away and formed channels and wells to bring the city water for the people to drink, sanitization, and for Si Wongs agricultural sector. It is ruled by the council of Four, members from all four bending states from the Council Chambers at the center of the city. It has maintained its independence for nearly a hundred years under Avatar Si Wong, however, in the seventy years since her disappearance, there are fears over whether the expanding Earth Kingdom will allow them to maintain their independence. There has been a long-standing feud between Si Wong and the various clans of Sandbenders, who say that Avatar Si Won stole the land from them. [/hider] [hr] [right][color=slategray]Bending[/color][/right] [center][img]https://media1.tenor.com/images/2f9089318e5b35bd755471cf8c90c465/tenor.gif?itemid=3850248[/img] [sup][I]"Fire is the element of power."[/i][/sup][/center] Fire is the element of power, consisting of overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires. Unlike other forms elemental bending it does not require a present source of the element, and instead, Firebenders can manipulate their own Chi in order to create fire. Firebenders do not have any real defensive movements, and instead, repurpose offensive tactics in order to defend themselves. These can be as simple as quick jabs in order to parry incoming projectiles or to create walls of fire to prevent the enemy attacks. Those within the various warring states within the fire isles have found that rage and anger can help power their bending, this newfound ideology has brought about the rise in various warlords throughout the Fire Isles. Certain firebenders are able to generate and manipulate lightning by separating the yin and yang energies, this then creates an imbalance which the universe tries to restore allowing the user to channel lightning. This unique ability is considered a myth, with only certain masters and prodigies able to conjure lightning. Combustionbending is an equally as rare ability, it requires a bender to focus their chi up through their body and out of their forehead. The resulting explosion is effective at both close and long-range. Most combustion benders have a tattoo on their forehead in order to assist them in focusing their chi. It is extremely dangerous however if anything blocks the flow of chi it can backfire. [center][img]https://media1.tenor.com/images/7288e74af891120889f7f27ce24faac1/tenor.gif?itemid=3850240[/img] [i]"Air is the element of freedom."[/i][/center] Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly problems and concerns; finding peace and freedom was the key to solving their difficulties in life. Airbenders continually sought spiritual enlightenment, and, as a result, all children born into the Air Nomads were benders. The first airbenders learned their art from the flying bison. The key to airbending is flexibility and finding and following the path of least resistance. Airbending is notable for being almost purely defensive, as well as the most dynamic of the four bending arts. Airbenders can overwhelm many opponents at once with large and powerful attacks that could prove fatal; however, due to the pacifist nature of the Air Nomads, such attacks are rarely used. Instead, an Airbender strives to use the opponents' energy against them. Due to their aforementioned spirituality, they often adapt to the situation surrounding them and employ negative jing, preferring evasive maneuvers as opposed to direct confrontation. Airbenders are typically more in tune with the spirit world, and even have the opportunity to project their spirit through the physical world through the use of advanced airbending techniques. [center][img]https://thumbs.gfycat.com/BountifulFrailKillerwhale-size_restricted.gif[/img] [i]"Water is the element of change."[/i][/center] Water is the element of change. The moon is the source of power in waterbending, and the original waterbenders learned to bend by observing how the moon pushed and pulled the tides. The Water Tribes are the only people who did not learn to bend from an animal, though the Moon and Ocean Spirits took the form of koi fish in the mortal world near the beginning of the Avatar world. The fighting style of waterbending is mostly fluid and graceful, acting in concert with the environment. Foggy Swamp style waterbending, however, is more rigid and straight. Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy; they let their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' own forces against them. Even when waterbenders do take an attack stance, their moves always appear to flow from one to the other. Waterbenders also have the unique ability to heal, they use water as a way to connect to the chi of a body redirecting the energy in order to accelerate the natural healing off the body. [center][img]https://thumbs.gfycat.com/CrispJoyfulIaerismetalmark-size_restricted.gif[/img] [I]"Earth is the element of substance."[/i][/center] Earth is the element of substance, while the people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse, strong, and enduring The key to earthbending is utilizing neutral jing, which involves waiting and listening for the right moment to strike and, when that moment comes, acting decisively. In other words, earthbenders generally endure their enemies' attacks until the right opportunity to counterattack reveals itself. Earthbending differs from the other bending arts in that it maintains a distinct balance between offensive and defensive capabilities, though waterbending involves a more refined version by channeling defense into offense. Earthbending uses a balance of strength and defense to overwhelm opponents. Sandbending is an alternate earthbending style that has been adapted for use in the Si Wong Desert by the people that live there. They move quickly in the desert on specialized wooden sailers that are propelled by bending miniature, localized sandstorms behind their sails. Because sand is sediment which travels inflows, their style resembles air and waterbending more than earthbending. It is implied that most, if not all, earthbenders are capable of easily bending sand, but because of the loose shifty nature of sand, it is not an easy transition for the average earthbender. Lavabending is a specialized sub-skill of earthbending that allows the user to manipulate molten earth. This rare ability allows the bender to phase-change earth into lava, lava into earth, and otherwise manipulate existing lava with great dexterity. [hr] [right][color=slategray]Character Sheets[/color][/right] [I]Please note when applying, your sheet should reflect the position of your character and the proficiency of their bending. If your character is a master bender then I need suitable evidence to support this. People in positions of power. Governors/Princes/Monks/Princesses/Spirit Guides need detailed sheets as these are people who have influence over others.[/i] [code] [center][img]CHARACTER PORTRAIT IF APPLICABLE[/img] [h3][b]C H A R A C T E R N A M E[/b][/h3] [sub]'Iroh level quote'[/sub][/center] [hr] [b]Character Age:[/b] Self Explanatory [b]Character Gender:[/b] Self Explanatory [b]Character Race:[/b] Water Tribe/Earth Kingdom/Fire Nation/ Air Nomad [b]Bending:[/b] Whether or not they have bending, and if they do how proficient they are. [b]Skills:[/b] Other than Bending, what skills should we take note of? [b]Weaknesses:[/b] Not everyone is great at anything, what are their shortcomings? [b]Posessions:[/b] Do they own anything of note? [b]Biography:[/b] Where did they come from? What made them who they are? [b]Supporting Cast:[/b] Are there any NPCs of note in their story? If so fill out their details here![/code] [hr] [right][color=slategray]Rules[/color][/right] [sup][i]These may seem strict, but honestly, I'm here to make sure we all have fun.[/i][/sup] [b]1.[/b] While I am willing to consult on ideas/concepts I'm the GM and will always go with what I think is best for the game and its longevity. [b]2.[/b] Characters can die, accept that if you do something stupid you may not survive it. I work on a 3 strike rule. You get yourself into a deadly situation your character cannot survive, I will give you two possible outs. [b]3.[/b] Player drops will initially become NPCs, allowing the player time to send me a PM (which can be a simple as RL stuff going on). Those chars will be spared, others not so much. [b]4.[/b] This is Sci-Fi, but we're keeping a foot in the door of reality. [b]5.[/b] Romance is okay, but if it goes beyond a kiss take it to PM or off guild (Guild rules) [b]6.[/b] Putting this in casual, I don't expect super long posts but please do your best for quality. I believe in you all. [b]7.[/b] [i]No Super Long Collabs[/i]. It's hard to deal with someone who drops in a collab, keep them short so if need be I can offer GM interference or someone can interrupt. If something big happens I.E. your dragon escapes and tears through the city, post as no doubt someone else would notice that. [b]8.[/b] I shouldn't need to say this, but no metagaming, powergaming, godmodding, mary/Gary-sueing, or anything silly like that. [b]9.[/b] [color=fff79a][i]Have fun.[/i][/color] [b]10.[/b] Do stupid shit? Expect consequences. [b]11.[/b] One character, to begin with, you can only get more if you prove you can handle it. [b]12.[/b] The turnover for posts is once every two weeks. If you do not post within this time [i]without[/i] giving an acceptable reason to one of the three GMs the story will move on. Your character will be removed from the roster and turned into an NPC/killed off. [hr] The OOC is subject to change as things shift and move on. Please feel free to ask any questions.